Beer can opener



Jan. 11, 1955 w. M. HANSEN 2,698,994

BEER CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 11, 1954 i 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR WMHanaen ATTORNEY5 Jan. 11, 1955 w. M. HANSEN 2,698,994

BEER CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24- 56 /37 INVENTOR WMHanaen ATTORNEYS United States Patent BEER CAN OPENER Walter M. Hansen, Milwaukee, Wis. Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,607

4 Claims. (Cl. 30-8) This invention relates to a can opening device and more particularly to a high speed opener of the performating type.

The conventional practice of storing liquids for customer consumption in cans has presented a problem for operators of restaurants and taverns who necessarily handle a large volume of canned liquids in this form such as beer and fruit juices. The usual practice is to punch a hole in the tops of the cans through which the content is poured into the customers glass. Prior to this time such a can punching operation has not only proved dangerous and laborious but also time consuming in that seldom was the punch conveniently located and its use required two hands, one hand to hold the can while the other hand was used to do the punching. Injuries are likely to occur in case of slippage of the can from the hand of the opener.

It is therefore among the objects and purposes of this invention to provide a high speed can opener requiring only a straight thrust by one hand of the operator used to grasp the can wherein a pivoted cutting blade is brought into cutting engagement with the top of the can.

A further object is to provide an opener that automatically positions a can for engagement with a cutting means.

A still further object is to provide an opener adapted for convenient mounting to open a beer or a fruit juice can without spillage grasped in one hand of the dispenser of such beverages.

Other objects and purposes than those stated will become apparent upon an understanding of the invention had from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts in the different views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the present invention showing a can positioned for opening.

Figure 2 is a plan view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking upwardly.

Figure 3 is a side view in partial section showing the can in opened position.

Figure 4 is a front elevation.

Figure 5 is a partial section taken on line 5-5 of Figure Referring now in detail to the drawings the opener of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral and is constructed and arranged as a self-contained unit adapted for inverted attachment to the underside 11 of a serving counter 12 shelf or a like support. This manner of mounting has proved highly desirable and adds to the efficiency of the operator inasmuch as the opener 10 can be positioned at about his waistline which avoids any necessity for reaching or leaning to an unnatural position.

The opener 10 is comprised of a base plate 13 having spaced securing portions 14 through which are inserted suitable securing means as screws 15, bolts or the like for secured engagement of the opener to a serving counter 12 of a restaurant, tavern or like establishment.

The opener is also well adapted for home use and can be conveniently positioned under a shelf of a kitchen cabinet for ready operation. Integrally formed with the base plate 13 are a pair of spaced members 16 extended at right angles to the base of sufficient length to act as supports from which the opener is dependently hung. Members 16 are apertured transversely to provide for the mounting therebetween of a pair of cross members 17 and 18 or bolts spaced parallel to the base 13 from which are hingedly suspended a pair of arms 19 and 20. The

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arms 19 and 20 are hinged on members 17 and 18 to provide suspended ends 21 and 22 thereof adapted for swinging movement to and fro under the base 13. The arms 19 and 20 are similar except that end 21 of the back arm 19 is formed with an arched extension 23 or cutter bar having a pointed end 24 spaced from a pivot point 25 carried by the arm. The cutter bar 23 is dimensioned to provide a cutting area of sufficient size to effect a suitable aperture in a can 26 for pouring of a liquid therefrom. The end 22 of the other, or front arm 20 is also formed with a pivot point as at 27. The pivot points 25 and 27 are spaced equidistance from cross members 17 and 18 respectively. Hingedly secured at pivot points 25 and 27 by cross pins or bolts 28 and 29 inserted through spaced parallel side members 30 and 31 thereof is a carrier 32. The carrier 32 is provided with a front cross bar 33 and a rear cross bar portion 34 secured to the parallel side members 30 and 31 by welding or like means to provide a strong unitary like structure having a slot 35 positioned longitudinally of the base 13. The front cross bar 33 is provided with a top edge 46 positioned as a stop for arm 20 to limit the extent to which the carrier can be swung rearwardly away from the operator to avoid overcutting of the can 26 as hereinafter described. The spacing of the side members 30 and 31 forms the slot like opening 35 as best illustrated in Figure 2 of sufficient width and length to allow for limited rocking movement of the arms 19 and 20 mounted therein on pins 28 and 29. The carrier 32 is formed with an outwardly extending ledge 36 spaced under the pivot cross pins 28 and 29 to provide for firm positioning of a can 26 held thereagainst for opening. Fixedly dependent from the rear bar 34 of the carrier 32 is a back arm 37 of suflicient length to provide a platform 38 spaced from and parallel with the ledge 36 to form an abutment for the bottom rim 48 of the can 26 seated thereon.

While I show arm 37 formed of one piece and the spacing between ledge 36 and the platform 38 substantially equal to the conventional length of a beer can for purposes of simplicity of illustration it is apparent that arms 37 can be made of a plurality of parts and adjustable to fit different types and sizes of cans. Positioned under the ledge 36 and having a semi-circular face portion adapted to engage the outer periphery of a can 26 is a back stop 39 positioned below and just back of the cutter pivot pin 28.

Secured at one end to the front arm 20 at a point 40 spaced downwardly from the top cross member 18 is a spring 41 with the other end attached under tension to a lip 42 formed as a front extension of the base 13. The action of the spring 41 is to urge the carrier 32 forwardly to retract or withdraw the cutter 23 from the can 26 without effort on the part of the operator.

The cutter bar 23 is preferably formed wedge shaped to provide spaced side cutting edges 43 that slope upwardly from the point 24 to more readily cut a wedge like opening 44 in the top 45 of the can 26 when placed in engagement therewith. This type of aperture presents a smooth pouring edge effective for quick and complete emptying of the can 26.

The simple operation of my opener is as follows:

With the opener 10 suspendingly mounted under a shelf or serving counter 12 it normally assumes a hanging position as shown in Figure 1 urged outwardly from the base 13 by spring 41 with the cutting point 24 retracted in slot 35. The can 26 to be opened is grasped with one hand by the operator and inserted bottom edge 48 first onto the platform 38. The top 45 is then pushed under ledge 36 into engagement with the back stop 39 and with a continuation of the same positioning movement the carrier 32 hung from parallel arms 19 and 20 is moved back to rock the cutter bar 23 pivoted on pin 28 into engagement with the top 45 of the can 26. The stop 46 provides a firm stopping means which allows for a quick operation of the opener to provide a full cut at opening 44 and yet avoid having the cutter point 24 pierce the side of the can by overmovement of the cutter which might otherwise occur on the application of an unusually forceful movement of the opener. After opening of the can 26 has been accomplished pressure of the hand thereagainst is simply released allowing the spring 41 plus the weight of the full can to effect withdrawal of the cutter 23 and return of the opener to the forward position as shown in Figure 1. The horizontal movement of the carrier 32 efiiected by the parallel arrangement of the supporting arms 19 and 20 is such as to maintain the can 26 in an upright position at all times so that any danger of spillage is avoided.

The opened can 26 is then ready to be lifted off the platform for pouring of the liquid contents therefrom.

While I described herein one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself thereby except within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for opening cans, the combination of, a base adapted for dependent securing to a support, a pair of horizontally spaced pivots carried by the base, a pair of spaced arms swingingly dependent from said pivots and arranged for swinging to and fro motion under said base while being held parallel relative to each other, each of said arms being provided with pivot points equally spaced from a respective one of said pivots from which said each arm depends, one of said arms being formed with an angularly disposed extension spaced from the pivot point of said one arm for pivotal movement about said point, a carrier member carried by said arms for suspended swinging movement below to said base, said carrier having a slot opening downwardly for rocking movement of said extension therethrough, and a dependent platform carried by the carrier spaced below said slot for receiving and supporting a can with its top positioned under the slot for engagement by said extension.

2. In a device for opening cans, the combination of, a dependently supportable base having dependent spaced pivot means, a pair of spaced arms supported from said pivot means, each of said respective arms being apertured at points equi-distant from their supported ends to provide pivot points swingingly disposed from said base, one of said arms having an end formed as a pivoted cutter extended from its pivot point, and a can positioning means suspendingly supported from said pivot points of the arms having an abutment spaced below the pivoted cutter.

3. In a device for opening cans, the combination of, a base, rockable arms dependent from said base, a can positioning means pivotally suspended from said arms, and a cutter blade carried by one of said arms, said cutting blade being pivoted for rocking downward movement on rearward rocking movement of said can positioning means to engage a can carried by said can positioning means.

4. In a device for opening cans, the combination of, a base, a can positioner spaced below said base, hinge means extending between the base and positioner, and a cutting means comprised of a pivoted blade member carried by the hinge means for rocking movement to engage a can spaced below said blade by the can positioner.

No references cited. 

